Indicator-alarm.



c. ROMA.

lNDlCATOR ALARM.

APPLICATION FILED'JULY 28, 1915 1,217,882. Patented Feb. 27, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

awumdoz C. ROMA.

INDICATOR ALARM.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 28. I915.

1,217,882. Patented Feb. 27, 1917.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2- CHARLES ROMA, OF MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE.

IN DICAT DIR-ALARM Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 27, 1.917.

Application filed July 28, 1915. Serial No. 42,384.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES Born, a citizen of the United States, residing at Memphis, in the county of Shelby and State of Tennessee, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Indicator Alarms, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to indicators, and more particularly to an alarm indicator.

he primary object of my invention is to provide an indicator for use in connection with liquid containers, whereby to indicate the depth of the liquid contents of the container.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved circuit closer associated with said indicator whereby to render an alarm when the depth of the liquid has been lowered to a predetermined amount.

A further object of my invention is to provide a circuit closer associated with said in dicator Which is adjustable to render an alarm at various depths of liquid.

With the above and other objects in view my invention resides preferably in the construction, combination, and arrangement of parts as hereinafter set forth in the specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a top plan view of a liquid container showing my invention associated therewith, the electrical alarm circuit being diagrammatically shown.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a similar view, looking from the opposite side of the container.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 44 of Fig. 3 and looking in the direction of the arrow.

Fig. 5 is a detail enlarged sectional view of one of the circuit terminals and the con tact arm of my invention.

Similar reference characters indicate similar parts throughout the various views of the drawings.

In the drawings, wherein the preferred embodiment of my invention is illustrated, a liquid container is shown and designated 1, said liquid container having an aperture 2 in the top Wall 3 thereof. An upstanding annular flange 4 is provided on the top wall 3 and is concentrically arranged about said aperture 2, whereby to provide an annular ledge 5 for a purpose which will hereinafter appear. An inlet whereby the tank may be filled.

The indicating mechanism of my invention includes a housing 7 substantially cylindrical, the base 8 thereof being seated on the ledge 5, a sealing means 9 being interposed between the base 8 and the ledge 5 to prevent the escape of the liquid contents of the tank, should the same be disturbed. The upper end of the housing 7 is open and a closing cap 10 is threaded thereinto, said closing cap having a transparent top wall 11. A graduated dial 12 is supported in the housing 7 on suitable brackets 12, said brackets having pins 11 for retention of the dial 12. A shaft 13 is journaled .in said housing centrally thereof. An indicating hand. or finger member 14 is carried by the upper extremity of the shaft 13 and is adapted to move over the dial 12 for an obvious purpose. A frame 15 depends from the base 8 of the housing 7 and supports a bearing bracket 16, in which the lower extremity of the shaft 13 is journaled, as indicated at 17.

An arm 17 is pivoted at 18 to the bracket 16, said arm carrying a float 19 on its free extremity, said float being adjustable by means of screws 20 or the like. The extremity of the arm 17 adjacent its pivot is enlarged as indicated at 21 and provided with a segmental gear 22. The enlargement 21 has stop lugs 23 formed thereon to limit the movement of the arm. A pinion 24 is mounted on the shaft 13 and meshes with the segmental gear 22 so that when the float moves through the arc of a circle due to the change in depth of the liquid contents of. the container, the shaft 13 will be caused to revolve, whereupon the indicator hand 14 will be caused to move over the dial 12.

The alarm mechanism of my invention includes a circuit closer comprising a disk or plate 25 carried by and rotatable with the shaft 13 and disposed beneath the dial 12. The disk is supported in the position shown by means of collars 26. A disk 25 is provided with an elongated substantially semicircumferentially arranged aperture 27, said aperture terminating at points short of a A contact arm 28 provided complete circle. with an enlarged portion 29 is carried by the means 6 is also provided,

disk 25 and adjustable to various points throughout the length of the aperture 27, a 31 serving to set position.

suitable set screw 30 and a nut retain the contact arm 1n a The disk 25 is provided with graduations whereby to facilitate the disposition of the arm 28 at the desired point.

Circuit terminals are provided, said circuit terminals being carried by the peripheral wall of the housing 7, as indicated at 32 and 35-3. The circuit terminals 32 and 33 are substantially identical and are disposed adjacent each other, as shown to advantage in Fig. l, said circuit terminal including spaced resilient arms 34:, between which the enlarged extremity 29 of the contact 28 is receivable, said enlarged extremity being adapted to bridge the distance between the circuit terminals, whereby to close an external circuit. It is, of course, understood that the circuit terminals may be mounted in any desirable manner, suitable insulating plates 35 being provided.

As an illustration of one application of my invention an external circuit has been shown diagrammatically in Fig. 1, said circuit including the conductors b6, said conductors embracing a battery or other source of electric energy 37, an alarm, preferably a bell 38, and a controlling switch 39, the conductors 36 being connected as at 4:0 to the terminals 32 and 33.

It is apparent that in operation the float 19, upon the introduction of liquid into the tank or receptacle will be caused to raise. This will cause the shaft 13 to rotate by virtue of its connection through the pinion 24: with the segmental gear indicating from the position of the hand let the depth of the liquid contents of the container. The disk 25 is also rotated, and when the contact arm 28 reaches the circuit terminals 32 and 33 an alarm will be sounded by the closing of the external circuit, the time at which the alarm will be sounded being regulated by the position of the arm 28 on the disk 25. It will be seen from the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings that l have provided a device which obviates the difficulties arising from neglect by owners of motor vehicles and the like to examine the fuel tank, often resulting in the inconvenience of being without fuel on a long journey. The arm 28 may be set to a desired position so that when the contents of the tank fall below a certain predetermined amount, the alarm will be sounded, effectively warning the owner that the tank needs replenishing.

It will also be noted that the parts of the invention are readily detachable in order to clean the same or set the arm 28. Another advantageous feature of the invention resides in the fact that to repair the float, supporting frame, and housing, it is not necessary to remove the entire tank, butthe housing and float may be removed from the tank without the service of a skilled mechanic.

WVhile I have shown and described my invention as possessing a peculiar form and construction, it is desired that it be understood that I may make such changes in the details thereof that do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Pat ent is:

1. An indicator alarm, including in com bination with a tank having an opening in the top wall thereof, a housing adjacent said opening, a supporting frame depending from said housing, a shaft journaled in said housing and in said supporting frame, a float, means operatively ctmnccting said float with said shaft whereby to rotate the latter upon movement of the former, an indicating hand carried by the shaft, :1 disk carried by said shaft and r tatable therewith, a circuit closing arm adjustable on said disk throughout the greater part of its circumference, and circuit tern'iinals on the housing and in the path of said circuit closing arm, as and for the purpose set forth.

An indicator alarm, including, in combination with a tank having an opening in the top wall thereof, a housing adjacent said opening, a shaft journaled in said housing, means connected with the shaft for rotating the same at times, indicating means carried by the shaft, a disk carried by the shaft and rotatable therewith having a semi-circular slot therein, a circuit closing arm adjustably mounted upon said disk within said slot, and circuit terminals on the housing and arranged in the path of the circuit closing arm, as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I al'lix my s gnature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES RUB LL lVitnesses:

W. EMMnr \Vnaaaus, R. C. CLINTON. 

